The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-16
Beggar Frauds.

"a year ago | kept 4 boarding
house on Carver street, which was
the general headquarters for the
crowd. AT no time were there less
than a dozen men and women who
earned their living solely working
the street. The average number of
boarders was about twenty. They
were mostly natives of Belgium,
who spoke French freely and were
frequently mistaken for French peo-
pie. Some were Italians and few
Germans. Perhaps half dozen
Frenchmen might be found among
them, but some way they did not
seem to like the business, or else
they were too proud to follow it
up.
Il was master Of the house and
got so much money every week for
board and lodging, besides the pro-
fcssional advantages. Itthey didn't
pay up promptly they had to get
out. 1t was principle of the
house not to do Il losing business.
Yes, I'll show you over the house.
"That bed over in the corner used
to be occupied by an old fellow who
worked Temple Place on the blind
musician racket. lie looked like a
wreck any way, and if it hadn't
been for his red nose and easy way
of finding his way around he would
have made a big success. As it was
he didn't do very bad. After four
years work in New York, Philadel-
phia and Boston he carried away
$1,000 back to Belgium. He has a
son who expects to start next sum-
mer with as much more.
"ln the next room lodged fellow
by the name of La Fitte, who was
over six feet high and strong enough
to knock out an OK. lie played the
broken-arm racket one whole winter
and used to average from Sc to $40
a day.
"Then there was another man
who had bear. lie didn't do as
well in Boston us he did in New
York and before he left town he
was Disguised with Boston He was
an Englishman and drank ale
enough to drown his beast. l ask
ed him once why it was that he left
so sudden. lie said that Boston
was played out and that it wouldn't
give any chance to a gentleman try.
ing to earn an honest penny"
With these words the man once
more started down stairs.
How much did your bcarders
make ?" inquired the reporter.
st all depended upon their pro-
fessional ability" was the reply.
"Some used to make as high as $40
a day on the average. Why, there
was one Teller with both legs cut off
who used to room here, who got IS
a week from a woman on Beacon
street one whole season. He was
walking up Charles street one day, |
and near the Beacon street crossing
tried his old trick of getting nearly
run over by horse car. Two old !
ladies saw him as he waddled along,
using his sticks to help the leather
stumps which he uses for feet. The |
driver didn't see him until he seem
ed almost nnder the horses feet.
Then he put on the brakes. Those
ladies were scared, it seemed like |
such narrow escape. They needn't |
have been, because he was stump
CT in long practice and knew just |
wh4 risk lie could afford to run:
AtSdst the right minute he got out
of the way. Pretty soon the old |
ladies overlook him, and pitied his
bad luck in being cut of that way. |
He told Il good story about sicllly |
wife and hungry children.
Those old ladies told him to call
next day, and he came down to the
house and bet the boys II bottle of
wine that he would stick the old
lady for Il ten lie went to see
them per agreement, came back
with new crisp ten dollar bill and
an order on down town lawyer,
who was the old lady's attorney, for
II weekly pension of s.. This us
ed much fun among the boys. and
they hclpedJacques spend the whole
amount before morning. That gift
made seven of the dirticst bcggars
in Boston royalty drunk"
Mirrors in ancient times were but
FURNISHED metals. Mirrors or look